A War of Features: Nokia Lumia 920 vs. HTC Windows Phone 8

Looks like the world definitely took a liking to Windows 8, whatever little we’ve been allowed to take a look at so far. Even as we wait for the Surface tablet and Windows 8 PCs to launch in the market, the competition is heating up among Windows-based smartphones. Last week, we brought you a story about the newly launched Nokia Lumia 920’s features and how it compares with some of the other popular smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple’s yet to be launched iPhone 5. Now, close on the heels of Nokia’s announcement of the latest model, HTC has unveiled its high-end Windows-based smartphone, the HTC Windows Phone 8X.

It’s not just the timing that coincides with the Lumia 920; the HTC Windows Phone 8X even has features and specifications similar to the latest Nokia smartphone:

The similarities: Both these phones, based on the upcoming Windows 8 for mobiles, are powered by the same 1.5 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and 1 GB RAM. Both phones sport similarly designed HD displays with a resolution of 1280X720 pixels, have NFC capabilities and can run on 4G speeds in terms of connectivity. What’s more, they’re even available in identical colored cases – red, yellow, and black. While you get the option of going blue on the HTC phone, the Nokia Lumia 920 is also available in white and gray.

The differences: This is obviously where the actual war begins between these two Windows-based smartphones. In terms of cameras, the HTC phone has an 8MP rear camera and a 2.1MP front facing one, when compared to Nokia’s 8.7MP rear camera and 1MP front facing camera. In terms of storage space, the HTC phone has merely 16MB of internal memory, while Nokia has been pretty generous with 32GB of internal storage capacity. Even the battery of the Nokia Lumia 920 at 2000 mAh is more powerful than the 1800 mAh battery that powers the HTC Windows Phone 8X. Bluetooth connectivity in the Lumia phone is also better as it is equipped with Bluetooth 3.1, as opposed to HTC’s Bluetooth 2.1. The Nokia Lumia 920 even gets a slight edge over HTC in terms of screen size – equipped with a 4.5 inch screen, while the Windows Phone 8X features a 4.3 inch screen.

Now, from what we’ve heard so far, the Nokia Lumia 920 surely looks more promising. But we’re curious to see how HTC’s foray into Windows phones would perform in the market. They still haven’t revealed the pricing of the Windows Phone 8X, so if they price it right, it just might be able to offer stiff competition to the Lumia 920.